How to write a CV and samples of good written CVs

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Writing a Curriculum Vitae (CV) can be a difficult task for some people seeking for a job. This is because most job seekers don’t know there is a format for writing CV. In this post, you will learn how to write a perfect CV for employment, and also see samples of good written CVs.

Do you know the difference between a CV and résumé? Maybe you don’t. Well, CV and résumé are never the same. You cannot write a good CV if you don’t know the difference between CV and Résumé. Probably, this is why many people add irrelevant information in their CV.

The good news is that after reading this article, you will know how to write job landing CV in Nigeria.

Difference between CV and Résumé?

A CV is a complete record of your educational, professional skills, career and more. Basically, it contains everything you think your employer should know about you. It can take up to 2 to 3 pages. While a résumé is a basic listing of your skills, pointing to the job position you are applying for. It takes one page. We recommend you read this article, Should a CV be one page or two page?

Types of CVs

There are two types of CVs;

1. The educational CV: This is about your educational or professional qualifications. It is usually for job applicants who have no work experience.

2. The experience CV: This focuses on professional experience, achievement and skills.

POINT TO NOTE: If a company asks you to write a CV, try to be as detailed as possible.

In a country like Nigeria, when an employer asks for your CV, they are really referring to a résumé. So, it’s advisable to always send a résumé to companies in Nigeria that requested for your CV.

If you send the actual CV to them, they might not have time to go through all the details. Some employers may find it boring and throw it aside. But if you are applying for a job in a foreign country, and they ask for your CV, please send the actual CV to them.

Format For Writing A CV

Below is the format for writing a good CV;

1. Personal details: This section comprises your name, age, address, phone number and email address.

Tips:

  • Your personal details should be in a visible font.
  • Don’t include your state of origin
  • Your age is optional
  • Do not include your religion
  • Never use unprofessional email address e.g., Ifyforlove@xxx.com, Jamesswag@xxx.com.

2. Work experience: When writing about your work experience, start from the most recent job, and state your achievements

Example:

  • Nigerian Breweries plc 2020 – (present)
  • Job Title: Production Supervisor
  • Achievement: Through my effective supervision, the production capacity was increased from 40 pallets per day to 50 pallets. Won the best supervisor of the year, 2020.

Tips: ensure that your work experience is tweaked to match with what you are applying for.

3. Education Qualification: Start with your most recent academic qualifications. At this section, you can also add professional certifications relevant to what you are applying for.

Example.

  • University of Nigeria, Nsuka – 2015
  • Qualification: B.SC Mathematics

Tips: Don’t include your primary school first school leaving certificate unless you are a fresh graduate without job experience.

4. Interest and abilities: In this section, write about your interest and abilities. Try to keep it as short as possible, also endeavour to add interests in line with the employer’s social responsibilities.

5. Reference: Add three unless otherwise stated. Don’t use referees without properly informing them you’ll be using them as your referees.

General Tips:

  • A good CV should be between two and three pages. No employer would like to read CVs that look like a textbook. There let your CV be concise and direct to the points, so it won’t exceed 3 pages. Avoid grammatical errors in your CV.
  • Avoid using generic phrases such as ‘team player’, ‘hardworking’ instead provides your unique real-life examples to show all your abilities.
  • Your CV should target job role advertised by your prospective employers.

  • Don’t use the term “Curriculum Vitae at the top of your CV

  • Never include your passport photographs unless stated otherwise.
  • Do not lie or exaggerate on your CV. For example, using 2:1 instead of your 2:2 is being classified as degree fraud.
  • No need to include your home address if you are posting your CV online to avoid being targeted by fraudsters.

You can check out this 7 killer ways to get a good job after your NYSC

Below is how employers look at your CV  by Eric Hilden

  • 45% Work experience
  • 35% Qualifications & skills
  • 25% Easy to read
  • 16% Accomplishments
  • 14% Spelling and grammar
  • 9% Education
  • 9% Intangibles
  • 3% Clear aim
  • 2% keywords
  • 1% contact information
  • 1% Personal experience
  • 1% Computer skills

Your CV should include:

  • Personal details: Name, age (optional), address, phone, e-mail. They must be noticeable at first sight.
  • Work experience: Start from the most recent work.
  • Education and qualifications: Start from the most recent or highest.
  • Interest and Abilities: Make this as short as possible.
  • References:  Add 3 referees unless the number is stated.

Tip: When writing a CV, don’t think about it as a way to get a job. A good CV is a way to get you to the interview.

Sample of a CV for a fresh graduate

Check this sample of a CV for a fresh graduate.

Below is the type of CV that Nigerian employers expected from job applicants;

(The person is applying for a position of a developer)

Personal information:

  • Steve Johnson
  • Phone: 08109054xxx
  • E-mail: johnpeter@gmail.com
  • Address: 80 New Market Road, Enugu, Nigeria

Education and Qualifications:

  • Bachelor of Science Degree in Information and Communication Engineering (2011 to 2015), University of Nigeria Nsuka.
  • SSCE (2001 to 2007), Comprehensive Secondary School, Ngwo.
  • First School Leaving Certificate (2004 to 2010), Community Primary School, Ngwo.

Technical skills:

  • Programming (Java, Visual Basic, C++)
  • Hardware troubleshooting
  • Microsoft Office (Excel, Power point, Internet, etc.)
  • Network troubleshooting

Achievements:

  • Layout Artist, The Guardian Students Magazine (2014-2016)

References:

  • Will be provided upon a request

Now, let me show you standard written CV that you should use when applying for jobs in a foreign company or in a huge organization in Nigeria like oil companies.

Check out the picture below:

How to write a CV and samples of good written CVs

If you have questions as regard to how to write a cv, please go to the comment section below.

35 thoughts on “How to write a CV and samples of good written CVs”

  1. Akon Bassey

    I’m a fresh graduate still serving as a corp member with no work experience, so how do I go about with writing my cv.

  2. DEWISEST KING

    Please who and who can be used as referees(reference) in a CV? U can reply me through my email, thank u

  4. Ibrahim

    Please as a fresh graduate of Agriculture how can I introduced my self in the introduction summary

  9. Peter

    Since one is required to indicate his/her qualification as well as school where such qualification was obtained. How about applicant that has WAEC GCE certificate as their SSCE qualification and therefore has no secondary school written on the certificate?

  10. Vivian

    Am a fresh graduate done with NYSC but no work experience cos my PPA is school.so when writing my resume should I skip the work experience part? I need reply sir

      1. Balogun Abidemi

        Can I get CV sample for this case:

        I’m a fresh graduate done with NYSC but no work experience because my PPA is a School. Although I studied Education course in the university. When writing my cv should I skip the working experience part sir?

        Also, in the write up above you said we should not include ‘curriculum vitae’at the top of our CV, pls what should replace that?

  11. uzoma Rejoice Daberechi

    Good evening sir,am a fresh graduate,in less than 3 months,I will be done with my service.My PPA is in a school, please how can I write a good CV, since I don’t have any experience in a company
    thanks

    1. Omogbemhe Faith Odufa

      You will fix your class or institutions grade under the subtitle of Institutions attended with date, starting from the highest degree to the least, for example, Ambrose Alli University, Edo state, Ekpoma(B.A in English) then the year you gained admission and the year you obtained your certificate. The rest certificate follows.

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